Owing to an upregulation of interferon-inducible genes, including Ifit1, Ifit3 and Bst2, the EO771 and EO771.LMB tumours might correspond more closely to the interferon-rich subtype of human basal-like tumours (Hu et al., 2006; Teschendorff et al., 2007). The gene discussed is IFIT3; the disease is neoplasm.